It was still early in the evening when the "nerd" man from the house where Vicky had delivered food earlier was being treated at the hospital. He lay on a hospital bed while a doctor stitched a deep cut on his face.
"What did you say happened to you, sir?" the doctor asked again, noticing the panic in the man's eyes, the rushed breathing, and the paranoia written across his face.
"I tripped over a barbed wire and tore my face," the man replied flatly, glancing at his watch. "Please, doctor, just finish up. I have a train to catch."
The doctor finished stitching the wound, handed him some vitamins and medication for the injury, and shortly afterward the man was discharged.
Without looking back, he stepped into a cab. Minutes later, the taxi dropped him off at his destination.
The woods.
***
Vicky tucked Emily into bed and then returned to the kitchen. Evan was seated at the table, his hands locked together like someone who had been thinking deeply about something.
"Has the exam already started?" Vicky asked while she began washing dishes in the basin.
"What exactly happened to those six thugs?" Evan suddenly asked.
"They suspect the vigilante got to them. Maybe he—" Vicky said, still facing the basin as she washed the dishes.
"Are you telling the truth?" Evan interrupted, standing up slowly and walking toward her.
Vicky turned in confusion. That wasn't a normal question. Evan was clearly suspicious of her.
She remembered entering the house earlier. There had been a man inside—thin, wearing glasses, with a strange and unsettling demeanor. For a moment she had felt something was wrong. She had dropped the food parcel and quickly left the house.
"What are you trying to say, Evan? That I killed them?" Vicky asked in disbelief. "Where on earth is this coming from?"
"Why would you think I killed them? Evan… is everything okay?" she added, placing a hand on his forehead to check his temperature. Something had to be wrong with him.
Evan was surprised by her reaction. The accusation was outrageous, yes—but he knew Vicky. And he knew something she didn't know.
"I'm just stating the obvious," he said calmly. "If not tonight, tomorrow the police will come knocking and take you in for questioning. You were there just before the house became a crime scene."
"I know how the law works, bro," she replied. "And I'll tell them exactly what I know. So don't worry."
Evan stared straight into her eyes.
"Did you take your medication this morning?" he asked, his eyes narrowing with suspicion.
"Yes, Evan. I took my vitamins," Vicky replied.
Evan nodded slowly and walked toward his room.
Vicky continued washing the dishes as if nothing had happened.
A moment later, Evan returned wearing a jacket.
"Where are you going?" Vicky asked, stopping her chore.
"I'm going to get the biology textbook from Jerry at the junction," Evan replied quickly as he put on his jacket.
"Come back soon," Vicky said.
Evan nodded and left.
****
Xavier was in his suite study, working on his computer and reviewing files about Paige Samuels, when he heard a knock.
He was half-dressed, wearing only shorts. His chest was well-built and muscular, with defined abs. His curly hair fell loosely across his face, giving him the look of a college boy rather than a dangerous man.
He locked his computer and walked out of the study, through the bedroom, and opened the door.
"Lisa?" he said, slightly annoyed. When he had heard the knock, only one person had come to mind—and it wasn't Lisa.
Lisa walked in, admiring the suite—and him. She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. Xavier instinctively wiped the spot the moment she turned away.
"This place is nice," she said, looking around. "You've been keeping all this to yourself?"
She sat on the master bed, running her hand across the sheets in a flirtatious gesture.
Lisa was wearing a mini skirt and a crop top that exposed her flat, curved stomach, paired with high heels. She lay back on the bed, facing the ceiling, moving her arms playfully like she was flying.
"This is so soft," she murmured.
Then she sat up and removed her heels.
"Do you think we'll make a baby here one day?" she asked seductively.
Xavier rubbed the bridge of his nose in exhaustion.
"Why are you here?" he asked coldly.
"Oh come on, Xavier. Can't I visit you? You don't go home anymore. This place looks like your new home," she said casually.
Xavier simply stared at her, his expression hardening.
"Okay, okay," she said, raising her hands. "I brought some news… great news. I talked to a reporter who's going to cover our story."
"What story?" Xavier asked.
"One where Blue shot fifty of our customers after she forced them to rape me," Lisa said with a smirk. "Except I turned the tables. I said it was all Blue's business, and we were the heroes who rescued the girls. The reporter wants to speak with you and—"
"Just stop."
Xavier cut her off, his body trembling with controlled rage.
"Are you stupid?" he asked quietly, stepping toward her.
Lisa frowned.
"No. This is how we expose her and get her arrested. We don't have to do it ourselves."
"Lisa, you have no idea what you just did," Xavier said angrily. "How did you find this reporter? How do you know she's actually a reporter?"
"I don't care. As long as someone out there knows what Blue did to me. She raped me, Xavier! And you did nothing. I'm your friend!"
Xavier laughed softly in disbelief.
"Do you ever wonder why Blue left us alive?" he asked.
Lisa fell silent.
"Why didn't she just kill us in that cave?" Xavier continued. "She took down Elder's most notorious killer and armed guards with one gold gun—fast and clean. Then she killed fifty men and left only two of us alive. The masterminds."
He leaned closer.
"Do you know what she's planning for us?"
Lisa swallowed.
"How do you know she isn't working with that so-called reporter?" Xavier continued.
Lisa's mind raced. Xavier had a point.
"Lisa, Blue is dangerous," Xavier said quietly. "Dangerous in a way I can't even understand."
"I just thought…" Lisa whispered, now crying.
"You thought what?" Xavier snapped. "I told you to wait. I told you I had things under control."
Lisa wiped her tears.
"Okay… then we just find this reporter and kill her," she blurted out.
"Leave," Xavier said quietly.
Lisa didn't argue. She grabbed her handbag and left the room.
When the elevator opened downstairs into the bar section—
"Hey, Lisa?"
Lisa froze. The voice was soft.
Too soft.
Standing directly in front of the elevator was the woman again.
The same bright smile stretched across her face, almost reaching her forehead. Her blue eyes glowed strangely under the dim lights of the bar, and her long natural curls fell loosely over her shoulders.
Lisa flinched.
Blue.
She was standing right in front of the elevator like she had been waiting there the whole time.
Lisa's heart jumped into her throat.
For a moment neither of them spoke.
Blue simply looked at her.
Smiling.
Lisa's fingers tightened around her handbag.
"How… how long have you been standing there?" she asked carefully.
Blue tilted her head slightly, amused.
"Long enough," she said calmly.
Lisa's breathing became shallow.
The bar behind Blue was strangely quiet tonight. A few empty glasses sat on the counter. The bartender was gone.
The lights flickered softly.
Blue stepped forward.
Just one step.
Lisa instinctively stepped back inside the elevator.
Her back hit the wall. Blue smiled wider.
In her hand was a gold strip gun.
She raised it slowly, inspecting it like it was a toy.
Lisa's eyes widened.
"You… you can't do this," Lisa whispered.
Blue chuckled softly.
"Oh, Lisa," she said gently.
"You really should have listened to Xavier."
Lisa felt her knees weakening.
Blue leaned slightly closer.
"Talking to reporters," she continued, almost playfully. "Very careless."
Lisa's mind raced.
"How do you—"
Before she could finish the sentence—
Blue suddenly pointed the gun straight at her.
Lisa stopped breathing. Blue's smile never disappeared.
"Don't worry," she said softly.
Her eyes sparkled with something dark.
"I'm not here to kill you."
Lisa blinked in confusion.
Blue leaned closer, whispering like they were sharing a secret.
"I'm here to remind you."
Her smile widened.
"Why you should be afraid of me."
Lisa's heart pounded so hard she thought it would explode.
And Blue…looked like she was enjoying every second of it.
***
Tonia was having dinner with Sam in her small but cozy home. The house was perfect for the two lovers.
They sat on the couch with plates in their hands, watching funny cartoons on TV. They laughed while Sam gently rubbed her baby bump.
Suddenly—
Someone knocked on the door urgently.
They both looked at each other in surprise. They weren't expecting anyone.
Sam stood up and looked through the peephole. He frowned and glanced back at Tonia before opening the door.
Evan walked in.
Tonia immediately stood up.
"Is everything alright?" she asked.
"Can we talk?" Evan said, looking at her. "In private."
"Yeah… yeah," Tonia replied, placing the plates on the table and stepping outside with him.
They walked into the small garden outside the house.
"What happened?" Tonia asked, concerned.
Evan looked at her, fear and urgency in his voice.
"I think… Vicky regained her memories."
Tonia froze in shock.